Key Takeaways

  • USB-C is the latest universal standard for wired connection of smart devices, offering fast charging and fast data transfer.
  • USB-C's speed depends on the data standard used, such as USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, or 4.
  • USB-C is superior to Apple's Lightning connector, which is slower and not as widely compatible. USB-C should be the standard for all smart devices.

If you bought any electronic gadget recently, it probably has a USB-C port. Not too long ago, all smartphones and tablets came with Micro-USB, but that tiny hole at the bottom of your gadgets has evolved into something much more powerful and useful.

So, let's see what USB-C is, how fast it is, why it's not fully mainstream yet, and its generations. We'll also clear common misconceptions about USB-C, tell you how it differs from USB 3 and other confusing standards, and compare it with Apple's Lightning connectors.

This is everything you need to know about USB-C.

What Is USB-C?

USB-C or USB Type-C is the latest universal standard for wired connection of smart devices. It's the successor to older standards, such as Micro-USB and USB-A, that are still common but fading quickly. A big selling point of USB-C is its reversible pill-shaped design that lets you insert the plug into your device face up or face down.

If you've bought a new phone, tablet, or laptop in the last couple of years, it probably has a USB-C port—it's what makes fast charging and fast data transfer possible. The exception is the iPhone, which used a Lightning connector on the iPhone 14 and former series. We'll compare both later in the article.

USB-C was launched in 2014, but since new USB standards are slow to be adopted, there are still parts of the world where it's not mainstream. A USB-C connector has 24 pins, meaning 12 on each side. Of these 24 pins, 16 are for data transfer, four are for charging, and four are ground pins.

Man's hand plugging in a black USB Type C cable into the USB-C port on a laptop or notebook computer.
Image Credit: Barry Paterson/Shutterstock

How Fast Is USB-C?

One common misconception is the assumption that all USB-C cables are fast. That's not true. In reality, the "C" in USB-C only refers to the shape of the connector and plug.

In other words, USB-C is only a physical and not a data standard. You cannot tell how fast a USB-C cable will be without looking at its data standard.

USB data standards such as USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, or 4 detail the speed of a cable. Basically, letters represent the shape, and numbers represent speed. We'll explain data standards in detail in the next section; please refer to the attached table.

The Problem With USB-C

Before we see why USB-C is great, we must first acknowledge its biggest problem: confusing naming conventions. The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) developed USB-C and is responsible for naming and mainstreaming new USB standards. However, it also keeps renaming existing data standards, causing confusion for regular folks.

For instance, the USB 3.0 standard was released in 2008, but in July 2013, it was officially renamed to "USB 3.1 Gen 1" and again in February 2019 to "USB 3.2 Gen 1". Similarly, the USB 3.2 standard is officially called "USB 3.2 Gen 2x2". These confusing terminologies are perhaps the biggest reason behind the slow adoption of USB-C.

Hopefully, the table below will make things clear.

USB-C Generations and Speeds

Generation

Release Date

Max Speed

Official Old Name

Official New Name

Compatibility

Marketing Terms

USB 2.0

2000

480Mbps

None

USB 2.0

USB-A, MicroUSB, USB-C

Hi-Speed USB

USB 3.0

2008

5Gbps

USB 3.1 Gen 1 (since 2013)

USB 3.2 Gen 1 (since 2019)

USB-A, MicroUSB, USB-C

SuperSpeed USB

USB 3.1

2013

10Gbps

USB 3.1 Gen 2

USB 3.2 Gen 2 (since 2019)

USB-A, MicroUSB, USB-C

SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps

USB 3.2

2017

20Gbps

None

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2

USB-C

SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps

USB 4

2019

40Gbps

None

USB4

USB-C

USB 40Gbps

USB 4 Version 2.0

2022

80Gbps*

None

USB4 Specification v2.0

USB-C

USB 80Gbps

USB4 Version 2.0, aka USB4 V2, offers 80Gbps data transfer in bidirectional mode (two-way) and 120Gbps in asymmetric mode (one-way).

If you can ignore the confusing names for a second, you'll notice the dramatic bump in speed with every generation. You'll also notice that the newer speed standards are only compatible with USB-C, not USB-A or MicroUSB cables. But as we mentioned earlier, new standards take time to become mainstream.

For reference, Samsung's latest flagship phone, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, has a USB 3.2 speed of 20 Gbps, but the mid-range Galaxy A54 still has a USB 2.0 speed of just 480 Mbps. Since knowledge about these data standards isn't widespread, companies feel no pressure to upgrade their manufacturing process to adopt new standards.

The fastest data standard currently available on commercial gadgets is USB4, which clocks up to 40Gbps. It's important to note that USB4 is based on Thunderbolt 3. Thunderbolt 3 is a proprietary hardware interface made by Intel in late 2015; Apple was the first major tech company to use it commercially for its 2016 MacBook Pro laptops.

Later, in 2019, Intel later contributed the Thunderbolt 3 specification to the USB Implementers Forum to help establish the new USB 4 data standard that manufacturers could use freely on their devices. This helped bring 40 Gbps transfer speeds into the mainstream. Simply put, USB4 is the royalty-free version of Thunderbolt 3.

usb-speed-comparison
Image Credit: Everything USB

One more thing to remember is that the numbers you see here are maximum theoretical speeds. In real life, USB cables reach anywhere from 60% to 80% of the on-paper speed of their respective standards, depending on the quality of the cable you're buying.

What's the Difference Between USB-C, USB 3, and Thunderbolt 3?

This is a very common question, so let's answer it once and for all.

USB-C

USB 3

Thunderbolt 3

What is it?

Physical standard for USB connectors with 24 pins and a reversible pill-shaped design; launched in 2014

Umbrella term containing three generations of data standards: USB 3.0, USB 3.1, and USB 3.2; launched in 2008 and ended in 2017; uses USB-C, USB-A, and MicroUSB

Proprietary hardware interface built by Intel in 2015; uses USB-C; released to USB-IF in 2019 for mass adoption in the form of USB4

How fast is it?

Nil

5/10/20 Gbps depending on the generation of data standard used

40 Gbps

Where to find it

All modern Android phones and tablets, Windows laptops, Chromebooks, gaming consoles, monitors, earbuds, and smartwatches, along with iPhone 15 series and later and select Apple devices

USB 3 data standards are scattered across smart gadgets based on cost and region; check product descriptions for more info

Apple MacBooks and other high-end laptops from different brands and other general USB devices

Is USB-C Better Than Lightning?

Yes, USB-C is better than Lightning in almost every way. Lightning connectors have a max data transfer speed of just 480 Mbps—this is USB 2.0 speed, released in 2000. That means modern iPhones (14 and older) are still stuck with a technology that's more than 20 years old!

Secondly, Lightning connectors are incredibly slow when it comes to charging according to modern standards. Today, flagship Android phones can go anywhere from 45W to 100W or higher, while the latest iPhones only go up to about 25W.

Lightning cable.
Image Credit: randychiu/Flickr

It's a shame that Apple refused to switch to USB-C for so long despite its apparent benefits just because doing so would mean losing control over the ecosystem. Not to mention the company's profit from selling Lightning cables and adapters.

In fact, the EU mandated that iPhones switch to USB-C by 2024. Thankfully, the company proactively switched to USB-C on the iPhone 15 lineup in 2023.

All Smart Gadgets Should Have USB-C

USB-C is the obvious next step for modern smart gadgets, and it's already mainstream in many places. As newer standards emerge, our gadgets must evolve with them.

Going forward, we hope the USB Implementers Forum will remain consistent with its naming conventions and not make things more confusing than they have to be. Removing all this confusion about USB-C will help speed up its adoption and help everyone.